Stories by Robin Martin

Māori representation has become a virtual no-go area for those vying for public office in New Plymouth.

The school tradition of staying with family billets while on sports exchanges is under threat, the secondary principal's association says. Audio

Feral cats are reaching plague proportions in New Zealand's back country and no-one's taking responsibility for the problem, says a Taranaki beekeeper. Video

An 18-year-old man is still missing after his dinghy capsized off New Plymouth this morning.

Anti-1080 activists in Taranaki are vowing to take direct action to halt a massive drop of the pest control poison in Egmont National Park.

A transgender student at New Plymouth Girls' High School is calling for pants to be included as part of the official school uniform. Audio

A small ski field on Mt Taranaki takes half an hour to trek into and is only open for 15 days a year, but a huge snow dump has led to "epic" conditions. Video

The arrival of Air Chathams in Whanganui has saved the city's airport from potential closure and will keep open a vital link to the outside world, according to its mayor.

More of Len Lye's signature kinetic sculptures could soon be on display at the New Plymouth gallery dedicated to his work, after visitor numbers beat expectations in its first year. Video

A stoush between a Taranaki farmer and the Department of Conservation is threatening public access to one of the region's top walks. Video, Audio

A Taranaki beach settlement is in clean-up mode again after storm surges washed rotting animal carcasses onto the beach and tossed huge logs through fences.

Labour leader Andrew Little, who was raised in Marfell, is blaming the government for the looting of derelict state housing in the New Plymouth suburb.

Residents of a New Plymouth suburb filled with dozens of derelict Housing New Zealand properties say they feel increasingly unsafe in their own homes.

KiwiRail is set to enforce a system of annual charges for use of level crossings and underpasses, but landowners say the associated costs are unfair.

A South Taranaki iwi is calling for Corrections CEO Ray Smith to resign over his role in removing a gang member from his volunteer position in prisons. Video, Audio

New Plymouth's only Māori councillor has taken a moral stand against a bill which would return some land in Waitara to Te Ātiawa and allow leaseholders to freehold their properties.

A couple who had to leave their house to make way for a wind farm now find their new property is to be affected by a new wind farm plan.

The government has been put on notice that a so-called 'wadeable' freshwater standard is not good enough for Māori.

The pā where the first shots were fired in the Taranaki Lands Wars could soon be redeveloped as a heritage park.

Whanganui's celebrated Sarjeant Gallery has just a week to find $3.3 million in donations crucial to its survival.

Whanganui homeowner Val Southcombe was forced out of her house by floods a year ago and doesn't know if she'll be able to return. Video

Taranaki iwi Te Ātiawa has been accused of accepting "blood money" for not securing the release of land stolen from Waitara hapū in the 1860s.

New Plymouth's only Māori councillor says only a Pākehā could have led the peace hikoi which ended at Parihaka yesterday.

Supporters of the New Plymouth mayor's Peace Walk to Parihaka are being warned not to react to provocation from people not involved in the hikoi.

A delegation of indigenous Ainu people from Japan is in Taranaki this week to share experiences and learn from local Maori about language revitalisation.